Hukkat Limerick

Hukkat contains one of the most obscure passages in the Torah - the "Red Heifer."
The text teaches that if a heifer is born that is completely red, it is to be be burned and it's ashes are to be used for purification rituals- particulary in the case of those who have come in contact with a corpse.

When you have a pure heifer that’s red
Its burnt ashes are carefully spread
To be used for a cure
If you’re labeled impure
By stumbling on someone who’s dead

Korach Limerick

This week's torah portion tells the story of  Korach, who tried to wrest power from Moses along with his partners, Dotan  and Abiram and 150 other leaders of the community.  Korach says:  "You've gone too far, [Moses], for ALL of the people are holy.  Why do you raise yourself up above God's congregation?"

Ultimately, Korach and all of his followers are punished by God.  The earth opens up and swallows them alive.

Korach is the perfect model for the Demagogue - someone who uses a tiny grain of truth to paint a much broader picture that will serve his own need for power.  Like most demagogues, he is ultimately swallowed up the weight of his deception.

Korach attemped a coup

Which caused a big hullabaloo

But his plan it went south

With the earth’s opened mouth

Gulping him down and all of his crew

Response to Adrian Durlester (Migdalor Guy)

Adrian, Check out Paul Simon's latest CD, "So Beautiful or So What"  Especially the song, "Love and HArd Times."  It's an amazing drash on how we see God and how God might see us.

Shelach Lecha Limerick

In this week's parasha, Shelach Lecha, Moses sends 12 spies to scout out the land of Canaan.  They spend 40 days and nights in the  land (a familiar number, yes?) and return bearing fruits - grapes pomegranates and figs so large that it takes two people to carry them.  10 of the spies report that the land is unconquerable.  They say that giants live in the land and they felt like grasshoppers.  The other two, however, Caleb and Joshua, tell the people that they can, indeed, conquer the land - as long as God is with us.  The people listen to the 10 spies instead of Joshua and Caleb.  As a result, they are punished.

Shelach

Moses sent spies out to scout

All chieftains beloved and devout

Of the 12 that he sent

Only 2 were content

To say, “We can take em’, no doubt!”

Behaalotecha

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This week's parasha, Behaalotecha, picks up a familiar theme for anyone who knows the Jewish community: complaining. The Israelites are learning to deal with realities of life "on the road.". God provides them with Manna-a mysterious food which appears in the morning and sustains their basic needs. Nonetheless, they crave variety and rise up against Moses asking for meat. Moses, in frustration, cries out to God who sends massive amounts of quail.
The quail, however, turns out to be more of a curse than a blessing. File this parasha in the category of "Be careful what you ask for....."

With only the Manna to eat
The Israelites wanted some meat
They cried and they wailed
Till God sent them some quail
Which rotted away at their feet.

Another Naso Limerick: the Priestly blessing

May God bless and guard your sacred space
May God's light fill your being with grace
May you always be true
So God's presence shines through
And reflect the true peace of God's face.